Americans Must Stop Eating Sugar
The American Heart Association say people must cut their sugar intake dramatically. And, you can see why, the typical American diet has three food groups: sugar, saturated fat, and marshmallow cereal! The diet of champions--not really.
In a new report, the AHA claims all this sugar is making Americans fat and setting us up for diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and cardiovascular disease.
The AHA suggests slashing sugar consumption, big time! You're average Joe sucks down 22 teaspoons of sugar each day.
The recommendation snipes at the beverage industry, with the AHA saying people should eat no more than 100 to 150 calories of added sugar per day. That's 6 teaspoons for women, and 9 teaspoons for men.
Sure, it's a hatchet job to what we normally eat, but it still seems high to me. When I put just one teaspoon of sugar into my coffee I feel bad. What about you?
Via Reuters.
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You have a certain discipline, Gerry, and that's great, but demonizing sugar might not be the answer for everyone. I think it would be great if we were given, as AHA's regs suggest, a chance to learn some moderation instead. 100 calories/25 grams of sugar over the course of a day would curtail the consumption of a heck of a lot of processed food. It's a start! And it's helpful to have a guideline.
ReplySorry but sugar must be demonized. It's a poison in the body. Are you one of those 22 teaspoons of sugar a day people? Get a clue - sugar is awful stuff.
ReplySaying sugar is "poison" is something a liar or an insane person might say. Almost everyone has eaten sugar in large amounts and never experienced "poisoning" from it.
On the contrary, sugar is just simple energy. It's good for you when you are energy-deprived, like after a long workout. That's one reason Gatorade has lots of sugar in it. Another example is after waking up in the morning when you haven't eaten in many hours. That's why people will drink a glass of (very sugary) orange juice or (very sugary) milk in the morning.
It's only "bad" (marginally bad, not "poison") for you when you don't need quick energy -- which is most of the time for most people.
Please don't make false statements.
ReplyI stopped drinking any orange juice in the morning with no ill effects. Stop lying.
ReplyYou both have very valid points, no need to be so hostile though. I am sure you have heard this many times: everything in moderation. I enjoy a chocolate bar occasionally. Not very often though. The thought of drinking 5 teaspoons of more of sugar from one can of soda sickens me. But post workout I drink chocolate milk which has lots of refined sugar in it. It just happens to be perfect for easy fast absorption to replace the depleted carbs.
ReplyThe point they are trying to make is that Americans on average do eat WAAAAY too much sugar in their everyday lives. It is not evil or awful stuff. Just limit it.
Actually the data clearly shows that of the calories consumed each day, three things make up 60%+ of the daily calories - added sugars, added VEGETABLE OILS, and processed cereals. [data FAO Stat and USDA ERS]
In 2000, the US (per USDA ERS) averaged 2,739-calories, with those calories coming from:
dairy, 285-calories (10.4%);
Replyfruits 80-calories (2.9%);
vegetables, including potatoes and legumes, 133-calories (4.9%);
nuts, including peanuts, 90-calories (3.3%);
eggs 27-calories (1%);
meats, poultry and fish combined provide 374-calories (13.6%)
grains, 634-calories (23%)
whole grains, 32-calories (1.1%)
refined grains, 602-calories (21.9%)
added sugars, 502-calories (18.3%)
added fats, 650-calories (23.7%)
vegetable oils (mostly soybean), 276-calories (10%)
shortening, 238-calories (8.7%)
margarine, 40-calories (1.5%)
Lean people who strength train tend to have very good insulin sensitivity. They can consume much greater amounts of sugar without a disruption in their body's homeostasis. Their pancrease doesn't have to work hard at all to remove the sugar from their blood stream. Their muscles are continually using up stored glycogen, making room for more incoming sugar to be stored and used.
A fat person who sits around all day is probably going to have terrible insulin sensitivity, and their body simply doesn't need the sugar anyway. Obviously in their case, sugar consumption will be bad for their health.
I used to be over-weight, and I had pre-hypertension. Today I'm lean and I weight train four times a week and my blood pressure is 100/60. I eat sugar whenever I want it. Sometimes I eat pixie sticks. Kiddie cereal. Doesn't matter. I just make sure to balance it with goodies like spinach, blueberries, walnuts, etc.
ReplyYes we know you T-Nation super-bulking guys can consume unlimited sugar and not keel over! Congrats, you're superior to the rest of us insulin-sensitive folk!
ReplyYea. I agree it depends on how active you are and your body's ability to handle sugar.
As a runner, i handle sugar very well.. and i need it to keep up my running regimen. After a long run (15-30k), pure sugar is the best way to replenish glycogen stores in your muscles. My post run drink is chocolate Soy beverage; ranging from 20-25 grams of sugar per serving.. i often take in 8 servings post-run.
Reply133 calores for veggies and THAT'S INCLUDING potato and legumes?
*dies, keels over and just dies*
Factor in the added sugars and added fats and, wow, just... wow. And then we* wander around, trying to figure out why why we're* always feeling tired, stressed and generally like crap all the time. Um, I don't know. Could it be that we* don't actually really eat any real food?
*And by "we", I' don't include me. Thank goodness!
Replyagree sugar is bad & we, as a nation, consume way too much but I certainly don't feel bad if I eat something with a little sugar in it. I work out pretty intensely & eat very healthy most of the time so I don't worry too much. I have a pretty good hold on this. But I do agree that in general, people consume way too much.
ReplyIt's the sugar hidden in processed foods that catch people out, rather than teaspoons of sugar in their coffee. I know its been discussed on this forum before, but cutting out sodas and sugary drinks would go a long way to cutting back on sugar. Water is the best choice of drink.
ReplyThe American Heart Association is just another organization with a political agenda. All of these organizations that used to be charities or "professional organizations" are now political activist groups pushing an agenda. None of them have any credibility left at all.
They can all take a long walk off a short pier.
And yeah, cut down on the sugar. But not until after you've cut down on listening to the American Heart Association. The AHA is worse for you than the sugar.
ReplyJust because the AHA is wrong about so many thing doesn't mean they are wrong about smoking and sugar.
ReplyI tend to agree with Barry to some extent; I work out a lot and have good insulin sensitivity. I don't watch my sugar intake TOO much, but I do try to avoid very processed foods. I do think that for the majority of Americans who live more sedentary lifestyles, sugar in the diet should probably be reduced. If people would just go back to eating real food again, they wouldn't get as much sugar in their diets.
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